Incumbent Network Research Articles

Intersectional Opportunities: Majority Minority Districts and the Descriptive Representation of Latinas and Latinos

Majority minority districts are widely viewed as opportunities for racial minority groups to expand their representation in elected office. Do these districts facilitate the same opportunities for descriptive representation for women and men? I argue that majority minority districts have served as important but distinct opportunities for Latinas and Latinos to get on the ballot. Analyzing pooled data from 57,812 state legislative general elections from the mid-1990s to 2015, and during the first rounds of elections following 2000 and 2010 census-based redistricting, I find support for this view. Key factors often associated with majority minority districts’ capacity as vehicles for minority representation, such as increasingly large Latina/o proportions of district populations and incumbent networks, are more robustly related to the presence of Latinos than Latinas on the ballot. These findings bear directly on our understanding of how majority minority districts fit into a portfolio of institutions for expanding descriptive representation.

The role of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in providing security for the UK energy system

It is not yet well understood how hydrogen and fuel cell technology could perform in the UK energy system (ES) and what influence it may have in contributing towards its security. This article aims to discuss the potential of a hydrogen economy examining its ability to reduce dependency on fossil fuels sourced both domestically and internationally. A snapshot of the hydrogen economy is presented introducing the latest development in hydrogen production technologies and distribution infrastructure. It has been postulated that with the introduction of a CO2 tax, integrating carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) systems with commercial hydrogen production technologies such as steam methane reforming (SMR), coal gasification (CG) and biomass gasification could significantly reduce the levelised cost of hydrogen (LCOH) production. The role of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in coupling the building, transport and industrial sectors has been demonstrated. Decarbonisation of heat in the UK is expected to incur a large cost for transitioning the incumbent network and it is expected that government assistance will be necessary to lessen the burden on consumers. Deployment of fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems and integration into the UK ES could make great strides towards improving its security.

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning-Based Distributed Dynamic Spectrum Access

Dynamic spectrum access (DSA) is an effective solution for efficiently utilizing the radio spectrum by sharing it among various networks. Two primary tasks of a DSA controller are: 1) maximizing the quality of service of users in the licensee’s network and 2) avoiding interference in communications towards the incumbent network. These two tasks become quite challenging in a distributed DSA network due to the lack of a centralized controller to regulate the sharing of the radio spectrum between incumbents and licensees. Hence, optimization-driven techniques to design power allocation schemes in such a network often become intractable. Accordingly, in this paper, we present a distributed DSA based communication framework based on multi-agent reinforcement learning (RL), where the multiple cells in the multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) licensee network act as agents, and the average signal-to-noise ratio value is the reward. In particular, by considering the physical layer parameters of the DSA network, we analyze various RL algorithms, namely Q-learning, deep Q-network (DQN), deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG), and twin delayed deep deterministic (TD3), whereby the licensee network learns to obtain the optimal power allocation policies for accessing the spectrum in a distributed fashion without the need for a central DSA controller to manage the interference towards the incumbent. Trade-offs are identified for the considered algorithms with respect to performance, time complexity and scalability of the DSA network.

Flexible management and decarbonisation of rural networks using multi‐functional battery control

To support the electrification of heat and transport, distribution network operators are looking to adopt network management solutions which can exploit local flexibility to advance their decarbonisation efforts in line with the evolving management requirements of the network. This paper develops a multi-functional battery control strategy that integrates constraint management with carbon-intensity linked control dispatch – carbon control – to support decarbonisation of rural distribution networks in Scotland by displacing last resort backup diesel generation and facilitating low carbon network balancing in the drive towards self-sustaining local distribution networks. The interplay between the different functionalities is considered to understand the challenges, and opportunities, of adopting multi-functional battery storage as an alternative management solution based on an operational distribution network in Scotland. Case studies are presented which consider network constraints at different times of day and year for various generation, demand and carbon intensity profiles to support this investigation. The findings of this work provide for the near-term, realisation of self-sustaining carbon-neutral local distribution networks that are in keeping with both the operational objectives of incumbent network operators, smart local energy systems and also low carbon policy objectives.

Security Concerns for 5G/6G Mobile Network Technology and Quantum Communication

5G is the new generation of mobile communication that is taking over the 3G and 4G generations. As our generation has expanded and continues to work faster and more adapt to the electronics of today, we are faced with the ever-improving technologies to keep us moving forward. 5G has the possibility of faster upload and download speeds. The possibility of more and improved smart products to advance our lives, from autonomous cars, smart traffic lights, improved city Wi-Fi availability, and gaming improvements with no lag time, just to name a few. It is expected that 5G/6G will make it wide open for new frequency ranges which will result in many connections and huge data transfer maintaining high network efficiency. With 6G on the horizon, Quantum Computing and networking are playing a key role. We anticipate that Quantum Information Technologies will enable and support future 6G systems in both communication and computing. Quantum computing networks boast a few potential security and performance advantages compared to incumbent network technology. The security and energy efficiency of quantum networks is superior to present solutions because quantum networks can theoretically work with single photons whose quantum states remain undisclosed in transmission from origin to destination. Quantum computing networks and associated technology may begin to be implemented in 5G networks and could become fully implemented with the advent of 6G networking technology. In this work, we are focusing on the security risks that can be involved with the new 5G and their proposed solutions. We will study the role of Quantum Key Distribution as leverage to improve 6G security.

The long-haul low-cost airline business model: A disruptive innovation perspective

This paper analyzes the impact of the long-haul low-cost (LHLC) airline business model on the air transport industry from a disruptive innovation perspective. We argue that the LHLC business model is set to stay; it is bound to penetrate the mass market that has, to date, been occupied by incumbent network carriers. It will thus lead to significant strategic adaptations in the long-haul air travel market where incumbents are well advised to prepare their responses. We provide a set of strategic response options along the categories of avoiding, accepting and embracing the LHLC business model that can be used by incumbents to defend their competitive positioning in the long-haul air travel market. This paper provides guidelines for airline managers to (re)evaluate the strategies of their own organizations facing the emergence of a potentially disruptive innovation in their industry.

Entry threats from municipal broadband Internet and impacts on private provider quality

Deploying municipally-run broadband Internet to deliver high-speed access is an increasingly popular idea among local communities. These public networks often operate alongside private incumbent networks and may have substantial effects on the competitive landscape. This research design exploits variation in cities that have a municipal electric utility (MEU), which reduces barriers to entry for municipal providers, and state-level regulation, which restricts public entry into broadband markets. Using these market differences, I investigate whether incumbents offer higher speeds to deter public entry or underinvest in speed due to crowding out. Estimates indicate that the presence of an MEU is associated with lower maximum upload and download speeds offered by private cable and DSL providers. In states where municipal entry is made more difficult by regulation, these effects disappear. Therefore, restrictive regulation of municipal broadband has a non-trivial effect on competition. Negative effects are reduced in communities with lower or less dense populations.

The Limits of Ambidexterity: Evidence from Netflix’s Entry

A firm’s resources are well understood to be a source of competitive advantage. However, how a firm comes to acquire resources with the traits that provide competitive advantage is less clear. To explore this question, this paper studies a setting where heterogenous incumbent firms were affected by a common environmental shock and investigates the characteristics of firms that successfully adapted to the new environment. Netflix’s entry into the television show production forced the United States incumbent networks to alter how some television shows are made. The paper finds that incumbent networks with prior experience in the new practice did not fare better than their peers. However, those with existing deep supplier relationships were better able to manage this transition. This result suggests the resources providing competitive advantage may come primarily through serendipity rather than active planning by firms.

Beamforming Design for In-Band Full-Duplex Multi-Cell Multi-User MIMO LSA Cellular Networks

The in-band full-duplex (IBFD) mechanism offers many advantages over standard half duplex (HD) systems: it can potentially double the capacity and increase spectrum utilization efficiency. While IBFD renders many conventional research problems irrelevant, it unearths several new problems that urgently need attention. We focus on a the design of a Licensed Shared Access (LSA) based spectrum sharing framework with IBFD multi-cell multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication network as the licensee, which operates in the service region of a multi-user MIMO incumbent network. We propose a modified LSA controller framework for the protection zone scenario of LSA, whereby the LSA controller ensures that the licensees always have access to data rates above a given threshold, for which aggregate interference towards the incumbents is also kept at minimum. Accordingly, we propose a hierarchical two-step beamforming framework, where i) the LSA controller first seeks the quality of service (QoS) requirements from the licensee network. Based on the QoS requirements, beamformers are designed to minimize the aggregate interference towards the incumbents. ii) In the second step, the interference minimized in the first step is considered as a constraint for the new beamformer design problem that maximizes the aggregate uplink and downlink throughput of the licensee network. Numerical results demonstrate the precedency of the proposed algorithms for IBFD LSA when compared to baseline HD LSA, whereby we observe i) over 60% improvement in throughput performance for the licensee network and ii) a reduction in interference exposure towards the incumbents from the licensees by at least 6.8315dB.

Network geographies and financial performances in low-cost carrier versus network carrier competition: The case of Norwegian versus SAS

This paper sheds further light on the competitive dynamics between low-cost carriers and network carriers through a case study of the network developments and financial performance of the low-cost carrier Norwegian and the network carrier SAS. The case study includes a comparison of the networks and financial indicators of both airlines for the period 2005–2019, using scheduled traffic data from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) and publicly available annual reports of both airlines. The results show that, regarding network focus and development, both airlines do not actively seek competition, but rather focus on their own business strategies, resulting in different network developments. This is especially remarkable for a low-cost carrier. In addition, Norwegian does not have the financial characteristics of large low-cost carriers, like Ryanair and easyJet. In fact, its liquidity and solvency are merely in line with those of large European network carriers. Recently, it has suffered from considerable losses, which likely affects its competitive strength. In general terms, the results suggest that low-cost carriers that do not have a low enough unit cost base and therefore are not profitable cannot generate massive competitive pressure for incumbent network carriers. At the same time, among those incumbents, the urgency to cut operating costs is instigated as a result of (the threat of) low-cost carrier competition.

A Sharing Platform for Multi-Tenant PONs

In this paper, we address the sharing incentive issue in multi-tenant passive optical networks (PONs). We propose an economic-robust and efficient sharing platform for new emerging multi-tenant PON networks. This platform is capable of accommodating a diverse range of service providers and enhancing the network utilization. We propose a sharing platform that provides sharing incentives for the incumbent network operators through monetization of inter-operator network sharing. Meanwhile, the platform allows the incumbent operators to operate a virtual instance of the bandwidth scheduling algorithm that enables them to meet their quality of service and latency requirements. Therefore, the proposed sharing platform grants a high degree of control to the operators co-operating the same network while, thanks to the higher resource efficiency, reduces the initial investment. We first model the multi-tenant PON as a market and define the roles of the virtual network operators and the infrastructure provider along with their utility functions. We propose a double auction mechanism to facilitate the trading of excess resources. The proposed double auction satisfies the crucial economic properties of a market while it achieves more efficient resource allocation among the market players. We have theoretically proven the economic robustness of the mechanism including incentive compatibility, individual rationality, and weak budget balance. Through extensive market simulations, we confirmed that the proposed mechanism achieves superior allocative efficiency compared to a reference baseline mechanism.

Financial Analysis of Network Upgrade

Ever-increasing demand for high-speed internet connections motivates cellular operators to upgrade their incumbent networks to the next-generation networks. In this correspondence paper, we study how an operator dynamically manages the budget flow during network upgrade to maximize the final-stage profit. Considering the time discount effect, we propose dynamic deployment policies for the next-generation network that trade off revenues and costs at each stage, and decide the optimal network expansion for the operator. We show that the time discount factor can have opposite effects to boost or hinder the network deployment, which depends on the depreciation of both the revenues and the costs. Furthermore, we extend our model and analysis to a market with more than one operator, where operators under radio access networks (RANs) sharing agreement jointly deploy the next-generation networks, and share the deployment and operational costs. A well-coordinated network upgrade under RAN sharing will speed up the deployment process and lead to a wider next-generation network coverage.

Spectrum-aware shared protection (SASP) algorithm for cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio (CR) has become a key technology for addressing spectrum scarcity. In CR networks, spectrum access should not interfere the incumbent networks. Due to the requirement above, common control channel approaches, which are widely used in traditional multichannel environments, may face serious CR long-time blocking problem and control channel saturation problem. Although channel-hopping-based approaches can avoid these two problems, existing works still have significant drawbacks including long time-to-rendezvous, unbalance channel loading, and low channel utilization. This paper tends to the issue of range mindful survivable methodologies with disappointment likelihood limitations under static activity in adaptable transfer speed optical systems. The joint disappointment likelihood amongst essential and reinforcement ways must be beneath the most extreme fair joint disappointment likelihood for each activity request. It creates whole number direct program (ILP) models for committed way security and shared-way assurance with a specific end goal to limit the aggregate number of recurrence spaces expended, and furthermore propose a range mindful devoted insurance (SADP) calculation and a range mindful shared security (SASP) calculation. This demonstrates the ILP show arrangements devour least number of recurrence spaces, however prompt higher normal joint disappointment likelihood contrasted with the SADP and SASP calculations. In addition, both the SADP and SASP calculations accomplish a superior execution as far as aggregate number of recurrence openings expended when contrasted with a customary devoted way insurance calculation and an ordinary shared-way assurance calculation, separately, however prompt higher normal joint disappointment likelihood.

Obfuscation and Shrouding with Network Effects - The Facebook/WhatsApp Case

This article analyses Big Data strategies with network effects. An incumbent network can abuse its market dominance by implementing a Big Data strategy that “shrouds” data collection. Thereby, only “sophisticated” consumers understand that data collection yields a dis-utility while “naive” consumers do not. Shrouding only emerges after both, sophisticates and naives joined the incumbent network in the first place. This guarantees that naives become locked-in. Subsequent market entry by a network that does not collect data fails, as the naives’ inertia keeps sophisticates, too, from switching. Surprisingly, multihoming exacerbates data collection showing that competition cannot prevent abusive Big Data strategies.

RescueNet: Reinforcement-learning-based communication framework for emergency networking

A new paradigm for emergency networking is envisioned to enable reliable and high data-rate wireless multimedia communication among public safety agencies in licensed spectrum while causing only acceptable levels of disruption to incumbent network communication. The novel concept of mission policies, which specify the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of the incumbent networks as well as of the emergency networks involved in rescue and recovery missions, is introduced. The use of mission policies, which vary over time and space, enables graceful degradation in the QoS of the incumbent networks (only when necessary) based on mission policy specifications. A Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL)-based cross-layer communication framework, “RescueNet,” is proposed for self-adaptation of nodes in emergency networks based on this new paradigm. In addition to addressing the research challenges posed by the non-stationarity of the problem, the novel idea of knowledge sharing among the agents of different ages (either bootstrapping or selective exploration strategies or both) is introduced to improve significantly the performance of the proposed solution in terms of convergence time and conformance to the mission policies.

Networks and Fault Lines: Understanding the role of housing associations in neighbourhood regeneration: a network governance perspective

Networks and Fault Lines: Understanding the role of housing associations in neighbourhood regeneration: a network governance perspective

Networks and Fault Lines

Networks and Fault Lines

Networks and Fault Lines: Understanding the role of housing associations in neighbourhood regeneration: a network governance perspective

Networks and Fault Lines: Understanding the role of housing associations in neighbourhood regeneration: a network governance perspective

The licensing of mobile operators in European markets and the consequences of new entry for competition

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate whether new entry via mobile licensing in Europe has had any longer-term consequences for competition. Design/methodology/approach – A database is presented covering certain recent periods and the issue of licences for the provision of 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services. Findings – It would appear that new entry has had very little overall effect on competition, although Hutchison Whampoa has, almost uniquely, forced a response from incumbents via a strategy of low prices, albeit without gaining significant market share at their expense. Research limitations/implications – Interpretation of databases cannot by its very nature be entirely free from ambiguity. Practical implications – In practice, given that very few 4G (long-term evolution) licence regulations have reserved spectrum for new entrants, it may be presumed that most regulators in European countries have already observed that such new entry as is likely to be attracted will take the form of poorly funded companies from outside the mobile sector rather than incumbents from other countries. Social implications – Choice of incumbent network is being reduced, although mobile virtual network operators remain active. The implications for prices and service quality are for now a matter of debate. Originality/value – The databases underpinning this analysis are not available from other sources in the private or public domain in the form presented in this paper.

Matrix-Based Channel Hopping Algorithms for Cognitive Radio Networks

Cognitive radio networks (CRNs) have emerged as a critical technique for solving spectrum shortage problems and enhancing the utilization of licensed channels. To prevent interference with the co-locate incumbent networks, before data transmission, nodes in CRNs should rendezvous on an available channel (i.e., idle licensed channel) for establishing a link or exchanging control information. However, implementing rendezvous is challenging because the availability of channels is time-varying and position-varying. For reducing rendezvous failure and increasing throughput, a node pair in CRN should be able to rendezvous on every licensed channels (i.e., maximizing rendezvous diversity) and rendezvous on an available channel as soon as possible (i.e., minimizing maximum conditional time to rendezvous (MCTTR)). Besides, to take full advantage of the frequency diversity of multi-channel medium access, rendezvous should be spread out in time and channel (i.e., minimizing channel loading). In this paper, we propose two rendezvous channel hopping algorithms, T-CH and D-CH, which can be used without time synchronization and role pre-assignment (each node has a pre-assigned role as either a sender or a receiver). D-CH requires that SUs in CRNs should have a unique ID (identifier), while T-CH does not. Both our T-CH and D-CH have maximum rendezvous diversity and minimum channel loading, and outperform in terms of MCTTR.